Major boost for Lynch as he secures two new rides

GERMAN-BASED Tipperary show jumper Denis Lynch continues to strengthen his team, acquiring the ride on two new horses.

His sponsor Thomas Straumann has purchased Nabab’s Son, which was formerly ridden by Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum and latterly by Marco Kutscher, who placed fourth in the grand prix at Olympia in December and sixth in the grand prix at the Geneva World Cup show the same month.

Nabab’s Son is a 10-year-old Belgian warmblood gelding by Nabab de Rêve. Also joining Lynch at his Münster set-up is Shamrock. By South Pacific, this nine-year-old Holstein stallion was formerly owned by Athina Onassis de Miranda and ridden by her Brazilian husband Alvaro Miranda.

Swiss industrialist Straumann also owns one of Lynch’s top mounts, Upsilon d’Ocquier, and late last year Lynch also took up the reins on the highly-rated Lantinus after Straumann again dipped into his wallet. Lynch has had mixed results since with the 10-year-old gelding, the best coming in the World Cup qualifier last month in Leipzig, where he finished sixth with four faults in the jump-off.

* SECOND best was the trend set by Jessica Kürten last weekend at the three-star show in Neumunster, with the German-based star finishing runner-up three times.

All came on Friday, with the Antrim rider just falling short in a speed class on the 10-year-old chestnut mare Kalande de Grez. Germany’s Rene Tebbel proved the spoilsport with Loriot S. In the 1.50m grand prix qualifier, Kürten and the 12-year-old Castle Forbes Cadeau Z had to play second fiddle to the Netherlands’ Angelique Hoorn.

The hat-trick of near wins came in the youngster cup for seven and eight-year-old horses, with the world number five rider and Quidana finishing behind Germany’s Christian Ahlmann on Abano.

Money-wise, though, it was not a bad day’s work, with 38-year-old Kürten pocketing €4,000.

On the Spanish Sunshine Tour, Wexford’s Dave Quigley steered Ashdale Futuro to fifth place in the grand prix with four faults in a competition that saw Briton Tim Gredley ride a slow round to clinch victory with the only double clear.

Earlier, Quigley rode double clears with Sabatina to place second in both a Big Tour jump-off and a Small Tour grand prix.

Cian O’Connor claimed the honours in a Big Tour two-phase competition on Baloubet du Rouet chestnut mare Baloufina, while former world champion Dermott Lennon took fifth place in the Big Tour speed class on Turboko.

In a Small Tour grand prix, Cian O’Connor protége Mark Kinsella scored a win with Connahey Clover.

In to Florida, four faults in round two saw Shane Sweetnam place fifth in the grand prix at Wellington on Little Emir in a competition that saw 60 starters.

Ireland’s show jumpers line out in their first nations cup of the season at the US venue in the first week of March and manager Robert Splaine’s team will bid to go one better than last year, when they finished second.

* EVENTING IRELAND’S fence judges in Munster are to have a forum to discuss their needs and wants.

According to EI, the regional committee “appreciate that, while fence judges are volunteers, they are expected to be more professional, especially when at national and international events. As a result of the demands placed upon them, it is planned to have standard equipment so that the volunteer knows how to operate the radio, always has a whistle and jacket etc. It is also planned to have riders, vets and others along to give talks to the judges so they know what is expected.” The judges plan to meet socially and to start voluntary training sessions; first aid is planned and others will follow.

The first session is titled: How to feed a fence judge and other important subjects.

Those interested should contact [e-mail], or call or text on 087-9781666.